Am I doing things right?

[Youngmumma21]

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice I guess. I’m quite a young mum (21) and think im doing well with my little one (now 7 months) I’m just a bit concerned that I’m not doing enough, where I’m young I don’t really have any “mum friends” as they are all older than me but my family keep saying that I need to make more friends so my daughter can have “play dates”

We go to a group every Friday which she seems to enjoy, And we go and visit family and friends often (3/4 times a week) but while we’re at home I try and keep things chilled she sits in her bouncy chair and we do tummy time and other activities. But she seems to be very grumpy when in her bouncer and I’m not interacting with her (because I’m doing other time e.g. washing etc...)

Is it okay for her to be in her bouncy chair for long periods of the day? (She can’t sit unsupported yet)
Should I be doing more groups?

I just feel like I’m trying my hardest to do everything for her and everyone is still picking faults:(

Interact with her as much as you can but you still have to be a functioning adult and do the washing so give yourself a break on that.

Sounds to me like you’re doing a great job.

Okay thank you! I thought that to (still got to do all the house work and stuff) but it seems everyone wants be to be super women and after a while I find myself doubting my ability:/

Sounds like you are doing great. My 7 month old gets frustrated in his bouncer after a while so I put him on the floor/play mat and he happily rolls around playing with his toys while I get stuff done and just talk to him or sing while I do stuff.

My boy always looked grumpy in his bouncer but outgrew it fairly quickly. He was happy enough on his playmat (ungraded to a playpen when he started crawling) with some toys so I could get jobs done round the house. Floor time is good for building strength in their muscles. I chat away, sing to him, do stupid dances with him, attempt to read books to him (while he tries to eat them)

Might be worth checking your library or children's centre if they do any sessions if you want to do another "thing". I wouldn't worry about playdates, they have zero idea how to interact with each other at that stage. They always just seem to like sitting on top of each other!

Thank you for all the replies! I will try doing some more floor time with her so hopefully that will make her day more interesting (and her less grumpy)

I’ll have a look around and see what’s available, and that puts my mind at rest I didn’t think she was interacting at all and was panicking as everyone was telling me that she needs “baby friends” to play with.

Thank you again for the support.

Have you tried a sling? You could hire one from a sling library (google/facebook to find one near you) and then you can do some activities, housework, go for a walk etc, whilst carrying her? The sling library places can provide advice as to what might suit if you fancy giving it a go.

Sounds like you are doing fine to me. Just don’t leave in the bouncer if they are screaming. Otherwise you sound like you are doing plenty of “stuff”. Play dates are mostly important at this age to make friends with other parents so they have some friends when they are older.

Sounds like you are doing fine, but I might limit the bouncer a bit. You need to listen to your baby. If he’s grumpy in the bouncer he’s telling you he’s uncomfortable in some way. Some babies need more attention than others. At 7 months he should hopefully be taking good daytime naps and you can use that time to get household stuff done. (Or be like me and relax during naps and let your house look like a bomb went off :).

You’ve gotten some good suggestions for things your baby might prefer. It will get much easier very soon when he starts sitting up on his own. In the meantime have you tried a Bumbo seat? (On the floor only— it’s not safe on a raised surface.) My DS loved it even though he was super chubby and we had to basically force his huge thighs into the seat!

I used to bring DS around the house with me in his bouncer chair when I was doing chores and natter on at him about what I was doing.
‘Oooh mummy’s washing the bottles for twenty millionth time’ or I’d sing songs at him. That way we were still together and he was getting a bit of attention.
You’re doing great

Babies don't play with other children for quite a while; so "playdates" aren't an issue below 2-3 in my opinion. The advantage of having activities or friends to go to is that you are away from the housework and it gives you a change of scene and company. This can help some of us maintain more positive interactions with our babies!!

(doi mine are now teenagers)

Sounds like you're doing fine.

Thank you for all the advice, I was thinking about a sling/carrier but I don’t want her to get used to being carried all the time as I think it will make it tricky when she starts at a nursery? I also have a very bad back so carrying her more would probably make it worse:(

I’ve stared doing more “floor time” with her since posting this and she seems to be much happier! Still getting grumpy sometimes when she doesn’t have my full attention (I assume this is just a baby thing)

Her naps are okay ish:/ some days are better than others. She’s just really nosy so fights her sleep then if she starts to stir in her sleep then it’s almost impossible to get her back off as she want to look around and see what I’m doing.

Thank you again for the advice and support x